Ancient Mesopotamia - Early Religion

We can only speculate about early religion. When the ancient cave painters drew animals on the walls of their caves, this may have been part of a belief in the magic of animism. By painting the animal, the animal would appear, by painting it speared, success in the hunt might be guaranteed. Neanderthals buried their dead with objects, presumably so they could be used in the afterlife. By the time mankind was banding together in cities or city-states, structures for the gods -- like temples -- dominated the landscape.

4 Creator Gods

In ancient Mesopotamia, the facts of nature were attributed to the workings of divine forces. Thus, there were many gods and goddesses, including 4 creator gods who were themselves created by the forces of Taimat and Abzu, who had emerged from a primordial chaos of water. [See the Greek story of creation out of Chaos.]

1. The highest of the four gods was the sky-god An, the over-arching bowl of heaven.
2. Next came Enlil who could either produce raging storms or act to help man.
3. Nin-khursag was the earth goddess.
4. The fourth god was Enki, the water god and patron of wisdom.

These four did not act alone, but consulted with an assembly of 50, the Annunaki. In addition to these gods and goddesses, the world was populated with innumerable spirits and demons.

How the Gods Helped Mankind

The gods bound people together in their social groups and were believed to have provided what they needed to survive. The Sumerians developed stories and festivals to explain and harness help for their physical environment. Once a year came the new year and with it the Sumerians thought the gods decided what would happen to mankind for the coming year.

The Life of the Gods

Otherwise, the gods and goddesses were more concerned with their own feasting, drinking, fighting, and arguing. But they could be prevailed upon to help on occasion if ceremonies were performed to their liking. And so, the priestly class developed.

Source: Chester G. Starr History of the Ancient World